Nzimande warns R2.5bn US research cuts expose South Africa’s funding vulnerability

South Africa's science and research system has lost approximately R2.5 billion due to US research funding cuts, endangering research positions and student degrees, according to Science Minister Blade Nzimande. Affected institutions include the University of Cape Town, Wits University, the University of Pretoria, the South African Medical Research Council, and CAPRISA, especially in HIV and tuberculosis programs. The US NIH-linked cuts alone threatened 1,930 research jobs and 108 student degrees, including a five-year HIV vaccine trial grant worth $45 million.